I am not sure if this is related to the Cold and dark panel state but I set up my FMC and calculation but never get a DES NOW in my DES page only DES DIR option.  I know of of the master caution bug but was wondering if this is just related to a bug as well or why I don't have that option.  I have only been able to descend with my v/s.  Any thoughts?  I like to start the aircraft cold and dark everytime so maybe if it is a bug I will have to set up cold and dark myself and then save my own panel as cold and dark.  I notice that the display always stays in CRZ mode as well.  Thanks.

Just dial in a lower ALT/FL and press the ALT button on the MCP ...

And CRZ is a company option..

I have tried the manual input of the flight level and hit the alt button but it still only descends at like 300 fpm instead of the normal 1800fpm.

DES NOW should be displayed when descend phase is not active and DES DIR should be displayed in descend phase if there is altitude constraint between airplane and end of descend.

 

If you are within 50nm from T/D you can reset MCP ALT and push altitude knob for DES NOW function.

 

All well explained in FCOM, just search for DES NOW and DES DIR.

 

If your descend is unsatisfactory maybe you left throttle open while in HOLD mode (normally during descend), or autopilot commanded speed change and aircraft is not capable to reduce speed and altitude efficiently in the same time.

You will descend at a shallow rate in VNAV until it intercepts the correct descent path.  If you want to get down quick select FLCH and close the thrust levers in HOLD.

 

If you really want to get down quick apply the speed brake in FLCH.  Failing that you can also switch off the engines.

You will descend at a shallow rate in VNAV until it intercepts the correct descent path

 

Just to add, if you use DES NOW, AP will command 1250ft/min initial rate until profile is intercepted. 

 

Even in early descend mode, AT will engage hold mode, so you can adjust your rate by throttles.

 

All well explained at 11.31.26 page of FCOM vol.2 (904. page in PDF)

What happens if you just select a lower alt and push? Does that achieve the same thing?

 

edit - reread your post

I will read again the FCOM to see what I must have missed.  I have come to the T/D in the FMC and still never got the DES NOW button.  That was why I was wondering if there was a bug or something in the cold and dark panel that I load up.  It should give it to me but never get it.  I have tired selecting lower alt and pushing the button in to select it and it descends very shallow and never engages the vnav path. I will re read it again.  Thanks for the help

If you want to follow calculated profile, it's enough to reset MCP ALT once you are close to T/D point, AP will automatically commence the descend. 

 

Remember if higher level of automation doesn't work as expected (and that happens), reduce to lover level of automation. In this case, use V/S or FLCH. Once aircraft is under control and going where it should, try to cope with VNAV profile and find out what's wrong. 

 

Regardless of this problem you should make your own C&D profile and leave it as default profile because live profile change doesn't work well.

just a fyi, not sure if affects other people - not only is the cold & dark state buggy, any created panel state is buggy.

 

I always use the default 777 SHORT, anything else causes random weird glitches. In your case tho you should study the FCOM

So should I use the Short and then turn everything off and start from cold and dark that way?  It doesn't seem right to start with the aircraft already with engines started.

777 Short is how you would find the aircraft 90% of the time in the real world. Short state should have the aircraft with the APU running/Engines and ADIRU off.  That's how it works for me.

 

My old man has been a Captain on the 777 for around 5 years now, he has arrived and found the aircraft dark only a couple of times. 

I use LONG state: GRND PWR - ON/ APU OFF/ ADIRU OFF/ PACKs OFF/ HYD PUMPS OFF/ Fuel PUMPS OFF/ Emergency lights OFF.

 

Procedure for making custom panel state profile:

 

1.Start your PMDG 777 at any runway in the world.

 

2.Go to STARTUP STATE (RSK3) and select default profile (one with engines running).

 

3.Restart whole FSX and start your PMDG 777 at any runway in the world again. This time, 777 will load with engines running.

 

4.Setup aircraft as you wish (you can follow shut down and secure checklist if you want to achieve cold and dark state).

 

5.Go to PANEL STATE SAVE (RSK1) and save your profile under some new name.

 

6.Go to STARTUP STATE (RSK3) and select that profile you made.

 

7.Restart whole FSX. You are good to go.

 

Whatever you do, do not change panel states live (with PANEL STATE LOAD RSK2 function) as it doesn't work well.

Nice so those panel states I created for touch & go's should work if I set them as the start up state instead of the usual  777 SHORT